POST by RENZ: Carving Up the Surf

Lorenzy with her Nica brothers, Mayron & Leiki

Right now, as many of you know, we are in Minnesota. Here it is very pretty. They have a lot of lakes, and I mean a lot. We have been staying at a girl’s house. She lived with us for six months in Nicaragua and her name is Anna.

Anna’s parents live on a lake and have a really cool place. Her dad has a boat that he uses for his youth like to go tubing or other things on the lake. After being with her and her family for a while, we traveled about three hours away to some different people. My mum and I stayed in a different place to the boys, it was also on a lake. We spent two days on the lake, since we had nothing really going on.

The first day that we had free we were able to go on the tubes. The guys piled onto the boat and about four jumped into the green water and got onto the tubes. Since the boat had too much weight in it, some of us had to get off and wait until they came back.

Rafi, Erick and I got off and decided to wait. I read my book whilst I was waiting for my turn. Sometimes I would look out onto the lake and look at them speeding by on the boat until someone would fall off. It looked like so much fun and I could not wait for them to come back and get us so that it could be our turn for seaside silliness.

When they finally came back, they decided to take a 10 minute break because the boat was not being its normal self. When the ten minutes were up we got into the boat and instead of going on the tubes again, they decided to go onto the knee board.

One of the little boys went on first. It did not take him too long until he was up and gliding through the water. He made it look so easy and I thought in my head that it was going to be really hard for me.

One by one, we took turns going on the knee board and then it came to be my turn. I jumped into the water and swam over to the board. I lay down on my belly and waited for the triangle thing to come to me so I could grab a hold of it.

Once I was ready to go, I told them to start the boat. I felt the boat drag me. I pulled the triangle I was holding onto, up to my chest and tried to bring my knees up so I could sit on them. I had one up and then the board went sideways and down real fast - I did a face plant into the water!!!

They came around with the boat as I was swimming over to the board that had escaped from under my body. I tried doing it more and more and on my third try, I was up! Once I had caught my balance, they told me to jump on one of the waves. It did not look too bad so I tried it.

I fell onto the smooth water on the other side. I went back over the wave and did this quite a lot of times. My arms ached but I did not pay attention to that since I was having so much fun. The boat turned and we were headed for some waves. I was not really prepared for the waves that came and so I bumped some of them, went flying in the air, dropped the board and landed on my side.

It hurt just a little but then we went back to the house. We were all talking about how we had fallen off or how well we had done on the water. It was a great, fun, relaxing day on the lake.

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Lorenzy at the Assemblies of God Family Camp in Minnesota

POST by RAF: Hello Hula Hips!

Raf with his Hoop

One night my dad, Elizabeth and Alex were watching a movie and I was on my own computer, I was playing club penguin. “I will show you the game at the bottom when I finish” I said to my dad. Anyway, after my dad and everybody else were finished with that movie, I had to go to bed. Then my dad came up to say goodnight and he went out, but I said wait “can you leave the door open” and my dad said “no” and walked on. “Every time I ask him all the time he always says no.”

Chloe

The next day I saw a jump rope and a hula-hoop, I did not know who it was for so I just went downstairs, but after three seconds I run back upstairs to get it. So I opened the bag and got the jump rope and I jumped for like 3 minutes and then ran back upstairs to get the hula-hoop. 

I hula hooped for like 5 minutes. The hula-hoop I liked the most. I will show you a video at the end to show you witch one I like the most.

Then my dad got out of bed so I rushed upstairs with the jump rope and put the jump rope in its own place, then rushed downtairs to hide the hula-hoop. “I did that because I liked the hula-hoop more than the jump rope”. 

When my dad came down stairs he saw the hula-hoop and he said “ho ho ho ho now how did you open that? I can’t even open that?” and I said “are you saying that that hula-hoop is mine?” and he said “yap”.

 So everyday my dad would test me and my high score is 121 hulas. I think Chloe can do a trick with my hula-hoop too. Bye!

To learn more about Raffy, please visit our page, Our People 

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POST by FRAN: Brave New Girl!

Lorenzy, Grandad, Francesca, in Rochester, NY

Traveling is a lot of fun, but it can also be really scary, especially when you’re flying with just your 13 year old sister, by yourself. First time being in charge of passports, first time going through security by myself, with my passport in my bag instead of it being in Dad’s bag along with everybody else’s passports.

Well my sister and I flew from Baltimore to Buffalo with Southwest Airlines a while ago, and that was probably the scariest thing I have ever done. As we lined up to cheek in our bags, Dad was scaring me more and more every second. He made me check in our bags and he made me do all the talking and he made me take charge!

My sister was acting calm and I was trying not to get confused. I guess I had to be the responsible one, so that meant I couldn’t freak out! Otherwise we both would have freaked out!

We went through security and I started to panic as I couldn’t see my little brother or Dad anymore… All that was going through my head was “Oh My Gosh!!!! I don’t know where to go!!! I need to PEEE!!!! CALM DOWN!!!!”

I calmed myself down and Lorenzy asked me “can we go to the bathroom? I think this is the wrong way any way.” We went to the bathroom and I went into one of the stalls… “Oh… where should I put the passports?!” I didn’t even put them in my bag… I told myself “there’s a bathroom on the plane!”

I waited for Lorenzy to come out and we went to find our gate, it was really close to the bathroom! We sat down and I turned on my computer and began to work on my last Bible study for Teen Ranch, in Canada, where I was headed to.

Then I began to get excited thinking about seeing my two little cousins and my aunt and uncle and my Granddad! It wouldn’t be long before I’d be working at the Ranch for a couple of weeks, either.

A loud voice came on over the airport’s PA system, saying that we were going to start boarding soon, so I turned off my computer and got the passports ready. When the line had gone down a little we got up and walked over to the aerobridge entrance. We smiled and got onto the plane without any problems.

We went to the back so we wouldn’t have to sit next to any weirdoes. We got seated and everything, and then we were ready.  The flight was very short and we got there in no time… Southwest Airlines is my  favourite airline when efficiency and fun are high on my to-do-list!

we started to walk following signs to the baggage hall. We went through a smallish hallway and on the other side saw aunty Jamie and Granddad waiting for us! All my fears were gone when I saw them smiling and pointing to us, and waving at us!

We went to get our bags and then went to the car and drove to Rochester (New York), where we were going to be staying. We went to Aunty Jamie’s house and saw Tidgh and allegra, our adorable cousins.

Francesca with her adorable little cousin, Tadgh

We went out for dinner or lunch, not quite sure which one it was, but I know that the food was good! We had a load of fun and went to our good friends, the Seaburg’s. We would be staying at their house. I was only going to stay one night. Lorenzy is still there with them now, having a load of fun.

The next day I left for Canada with Granddad. I said my goodbyes to everyone and then hit the road… it took us 3 hours to get there, but we made it safely!

I just wanted to say Thank you to my Parents for letting me come here and for making this possible… I love you guys.

Fran, Mum (Elizabeth) and Renz in San Diego (A GORGEOUS city in Southern California)

Thank you Granddad for driving me here, it was a lot of fun spending time with you… I hope you made it back ok.

And thank you to the Stevens for adopting me as a new addition to your fun-loving family!

Lorenzy, Aunty Jaime & Francesca

To learn more about Franny, please visit our page, Our People 

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POST by SEZ: A Night Out in Nicaragua

Sez & Billy, several years ago...

One day, I went to the movies with my little step brother, Billy. We went to watch Iron Man Three. Some parts were scary, but the whole movie wasn’t that scary, but my mom closed Billy’s eyes real fast. We ate Mc Donald’s, not popcorn, not hot dogs, not even candy. We ate hamburgers, fry’s, we drank Coca Cola, it was delouses.  

To learn more about Sezzy, please visit our page, Our People 

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POST by RAF: Doing Denver

Rafael Brien, BIG and STRONG!

One day at the food market Elizabeth and I were buying food. I was pushing the trolley. After we got all the food I asked Elizabeth ’’can I scan the food on to the scanner thing please?” Elizabeth said ‘’maybe,” but all of the scan things had a big line so I didn’t get to do it that time.

Next we went to my first automatic car wash. The car wash was fun because the spinning, moving blue things would go on the front of the car, I asked Alex ’’what are those?” and he said ‘’they’re lots of Smurfs.” Elizabeth and I laughed out loud, hahahaha. Then when the car was being rinsed Alex scared me by saying ‘’we are moving, we are moving!” so I was a little scared.
 
After the car wash, Alex, Elizabeth and I got a surprise for me, it was icing, no I mean it was ice cream! Then when we got home I still had my ice cream and then Elizabeth and Alex said to me "the dogs like ice cream!" so I got a spoon, I put ice cream on it and gave it to the dogs, they slobbered! then Alex said to me "we give ice cream to the dogs on their birthday."

Then we all went to get my dad and a Bboy named "Jonny." Last I watched TV with everybody.

To learn more about Raffy, please visit our page, Our People

If you would like to support the Brien family, please visit our support page and learn how you can be of help: Contemplating SUPPORTING something significant?

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POST by SEZ: On the Streets in Sacramento

Homelessness in Sacramento

On Tuesday, we gave thirty-two bags to people. Some people were walking, others were on bicycles and skate boards. We gave them clothes, food and water. Some people sleep under bridges and in tents, and there were thousands of people we didn’t help. 

Taking it to the STREETS, with New Life & the Dream Center in Sacramento, CA

Some people thanked us and some people didn’t thank us and we only had thirty-two bags, so some people got a bag and some people didn’t. In the bag we had cookies, clothes, chocolates, a banana and a bottle of water.

The "American Dream" isn't so Dreamy for Some...

We gave people these bags because they are poor and don’t have a family or a home.

We saw literally HUNDREDS of Homeless People in Downtown Sacramento

POST by FRAN: Tissue Toime!

Beautiful Francesca! (Watch out for that TREE!)

We have a big family and a lot of friends who live near and far from us… We have traveled a lot and we have only made more friends by doing so. Even if we go to the beach we make new friends.

Since November we have had family and friends come and visit, and most of the time it was hard for someone. One week Jenny Seaburg had a virus and it started out little but then it woke her up in the middle of the night and sent her to the hospital along with my Mum, Shane, Nanny, and myself as the translator.

It is important for us to know that we have friends that still love us. I know my friend limits are being lowered just because of the ministry I live in with my family and some friends’ relationships have changed so that now they’re like family to me.

This blogpost is sort of a good bye/I’ll miss you/thank you and memories to/for some of my closest friends and family.

Anna: I am going to really miss you when you go back to Minnesota, and if you don’t come back for a while I will always facebook and skype you. You are more than a friend to me… you are like my older sister that I have never had. I can’t wait to go to California and Minnesota with you!

Fran & Anna - Our first EVER GAP YEAR Leader... a GOLDEN GIRL if ever there was one!

Lorenzy: I know that you ARE my sister, but you are also my best friend. It will be harder to steal your clothes while I am in Canada, but when I see you I will. I have learned, with Anna’s help, that your sister is usually the only one that will always care about what is going on in your life. And you have always known and been there, in a way. I’m always here for you.

BFFs for LOIFE! Franny-pan & Renzy-roohs!

Jocasta: I have loved every talk that we have talked and every walk that we have walked, and I´m glad that you are back in Nicaragua. Don’t have too much fun while I am away in Canada I will miss you heaps! Love ya!

Jocasta the GREAT!

Natalie: I haven’t known you for that long, but you remind me of myself in some things. I know you don’t think so but, we are very similar in a few things, and I think you are a really nice girl.

Natalie, our latest GAP YEAR Leader...

Monica: I have known you for less than a week and I already think that you are awesome. You are like my Mum’s friend Racheal Morejon and I love you like a sister already! I’m happy that I have met you.

Monny, our newest Mexican-Australian Gapper - what a gal! We love you!!!

And for the tricker boys… I will miss you all after a while, but only after I get really home sick and start skyping everyone… haha just kidding… I really feel like you guys are my brothers and I will miss you guys just as much I will miss everyone else.

Francesca on tour in El Salvador with the Nicavangelists

And for my 3 real little brothers… stay safe, don’t get into trouble, and always trust your family. Sez lay off of the wii for a while, Raf don’t start any drama, and Billy stay little and cute.

Franny having a Good ol' laugh with Raffy

Mum and Dad: I have had a hard time and I know sometimes it was hard for you too, in understanding me. But I really haven’t been the best person for you to talk to. I haven’t been trying to change my attitude into a bad one.

Thanks for the opportunity to go to Canada. I’m preparing myself to go travel with all the boys and you guys to the states and I can’t believe that the visas got approved and it is such a blessing from God - I can’t wait to see their reaction on the plane! I’m already laughing! LoL… anyway, I’m just saying thank you and I hope you understand me… LOVE you guys lots!

Brian, Mummy, Franny & Daddy xoxoxo

 Always remember that Family and friends are the best thing in life. For me this year is going to be great!

The Brien family...

POST by RENZ: Driving Miss Lorenzy

Relatives from both sides of the family have been visiting ever since Francesca’s birthday. All four grandparents, my cousins, and my aunt and uncles have been here. I have not seen most of them for about five years so I was really excited.

Nanny, (my dad’s mum) thought that it would be a good idea for my sister and I to learn how to drive. So she took us out in our little grey car that is all bashed up and old but I love that car.

First up was Fran and she already knew how to drive a little, so it was not too hard for her. But for me, I had only driven whilst I was sat on my parents lap and used the steering wheel to turn. Plus, our grey car has a gear stick so I also had to learn how to use all the gears.

I managed to go down the road ok but I stalled a lot of times. When I went to turn around at the end of the road, I was reversing then going forward, reversing, forward, backwards, stall, forward. It took me a while to do it.

It took a lot of patience from me and from my grandmother. Also, it did not help when my sister was in the back randomly yelling things like “Watch out there’s a dog!” or “Speed bump!” and many other things like that.

When we got back to the house, my grandmother suggested that Sezni, my younger brother, should also start learning how to drive. Fran got out of the car and went inside, but I stayed because I wanted to see how my little brother would do.

When he got into the driver’s seat you could tell that he was really nervous. Nanny started talking to him very calmly and he followed her instructions very well. When we were going to go into the drive way to our house my nanny said to Sezni “I think Lorenzy should drive into the driveway, ok Sez? So just brake.”

His reply was “ok nanny” but instead of hitting the brakes, he put his foot on the accelerator and then nanny said a bit louder “No Sezni, on the brakes! That was the accelerator. Now put your foot on the BRAKE.”

He was starting to give up so he just slammed his foot on the accelerator thinking that it was the brake but he was in reverse so we went flying back and right as we hit our wall, Nanny pulled the handbrake. When the car had stopped, we all started laughing really hard, but then I realized that Sezni was not laughing and was nearly in tears. I tried to stop laughing so that he wouldn’t feel so bad but I just couldn’t.

Sezni started saying between sobs that he sucked and that he was stupid because we crashed and we were trying to calm him down. After he stopped crying and felt a little better I changed place with him and drove into the driveway.